Weaving Stories, Curating Memories

Vermilion Orange

The vermilion orange hue of the sky reminded Trina of her mother. Ma used to say that the sky turns orange when Goddess Durga gets angry with her husband Shiva and throws away her vermilion box, scattering vermilion powder all over the sky.

Inquisitive Trina used to ask ‘Why does Durga get angry?’ Ma used to reply ‘all women get angry with their husbands, you will understand once you get married’

Trina is now married and she perfectly understands what her mother meant then. She had a horrible fight with her husband Tanmoy and was sitting angrily in a park, overlooking the sky, trying to calm down. Far away from her home, in this foreign land the sky looked exactly like the one from her childhood. Today, just like goddess Durga she was angry and her vermilion was scattered all over the sky.

Word count: 143

P.S.: Vermilion powder is worn by Hindu married woman on their forehead. It is a sign of their marriage and considered sacrosanct, similar to the wedding ring. Durga and Shiva are Hindu goddess and god respectively who are esteemed as an ideal couple according to Hindu mythology.